University of Wisconsin President Ray Cross on Tuesday asked the Legislature's budget-writing committee to approve a new public authority for the UW System, a "dedicated and stable funding stream" and to reduce the governor's proposed $300 million budget cut over the next two years.

Shortly after he finished his testimony, a handful of protesters burst into the room shouting, "No cuts, no deals." Followed by four Capitol police officers, the protesters marched past the table where Cross was sitting to give testimony before the Joint Committee on Finance.

If Park Bank is liable for not spotting Sujata "Sue" Sachdeva's $34 million embezzlement from Koss Corp. and has to reimburse the company, Koss Chief Executive Michael Koss should also be ordered to personally pay the public company he runs, the bank argues in a new lawsuit.

Grant Thornton, Koss Corp.'s former auditor, should also have to pay a portion of any award that may be ordered, Park Bank argued in the latest twist in a long-running court fight stemming from Sachdeva's massive embezzlement.

"Park Bank denies any and all liability to Koss in this case," the bank said in its action. "Nevertheless, should Park Bank be found liable to Koss (Corp.) and required to pay damages to Koss, in this case, those damages will have been the result of a common liability of Park Bank, Michael Koss and Grant Thornton, thereby entitling Park Bank to (a) contribution from Michael Koss and Grant Thornton."(3)

Puustinen recovers from splitting knee cap

It’s annual camera night tomorrow against visiting Chicago, and fans will notice the biggest smile will likely belong to right wing Juuso Puustinen when they gather on the ice for pictures.

And it’s not because Puustinen is tied for second on the team with seven assists and has played in every game but the second one of the season.

“After everything, it’s definitely puts things in a new perspective,” Puustinen recently said. “I learned a lot during this process. It’s been a long way and I’m just glad to be back."

Back from splitting his knee cap in two after he blocked a shot on March 10.

Puustinen went from ranking fourth on the team with 16 goals at that time to keeping his leg at greater than a 180-degree angle for two weeks to allow the bone to heal properly.

He said the first 10 days after the injury where the worst, and there was plenty of pain after surgery.

“That was something I never felt before,” Puustinen said.

Puustinen remembers waking up at 4 p.m. in the hospital and his leg was still numb. Until midnight, anyway, and then pain. And more pain.

“The pain was something I can’t explain,” Puustinen said. “The pressure was so tough. I felt like there was an elephant on my knee all the time. I couldn’t sleep the whole night. At 8 a.m. the next morning, they change the nurse and he comes in and is like, ‘oh no, this doesn’t look good.’ And he lifts up my leg and that’s when the pain started relieving, and I just got tears flowing out of my eyes because it felt so good to get the pain away.”

When Puustinen was finally able to return to his apartment, his teammates were on a long road trip. So he basically stayed in bed.

“That was the worst time of the injury,” he said. “I was thinking maybe my career is ending and I can’t play anymore. All the bad stuff I was thinking. That was the worst time.”

Puustinen eventually returned home to Finland and once he started therapy, he was in a better mood.